Nearly two-thirds of adults 70 and older have hearing loss, according to a new study by researchers from Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging.

While the rate is climbing for older adults as a whole, African-Americans appear to have less risk of developing hearing loss, researchers found. The reasons why, however, remain unknown.

Researchers say their study offers a sweeping look at a condition that is often underreported. Most people think of hearing loss in the elderly as a minor health issue, but researchers are beginning to find links between hearing loss and such conditions as dementia, cognitive decline and physical health problems.

The findings, published online this week in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, come from an analysis of a national survey from 2005-2006. Of 717 people aged 70 or older in the study, 63 percent had hearing loss, ranging from mind to severe, researchers found. Despite that relatively large number, only about one-fifth of adults with hearing loss use hearing aids, the authors write.

When researchers broke down their findings by race, they found about 64 percent of white participants had hearing loss, while that figure was 43 percent for blacks. Even after they accounted for factors such as previous noise exposure, which is associated with hearing loss, they found blacks in the study had about a third of the chance of having hearing loss compared to whites.

As with most racial disparities in health care, researchers aren't sure why there may be a racial difference in hearing loss. They suggested that pigment produced by cells in the skin and the inner ear might help protect the ear, but they aren't sure. Clearly, the issue needs more study as this was a small survey.  

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: geriatrics
        

For the tail end of Dental Health Month, we at Picture of Health decided to put common oral health questions to 5 experts from the University of Maryland Dental School. Today is Day 1, and the subject is Waterpiks.

Question: Is it worth investing in a Waterpik or other flossing tools or is regular flossing the best, and are there any dangers with such devices?

Answer: Dr. Jacquelyn L. Fried, associate professor and director of the division of dental hygiene says:

Many interdental cleansing devices are on the market and many approaches to interproximal plaque removal exist. The best choice for inter-dental cleansing is the one that works for the patient.

Physical limitations often determine choices. Certain individuals (e.g., those with arthritis, young children who are developing motor control) may not have the manual dexterity to manipulate floss effectively; others may prefer flossing over the use of inter-dental brushes or irrigation devices (such as the Waterpik). Irrigation devices are helpful to those with limited hand movement and often are beneficial for patients in orthodontic bands or wires.

Oral anatomy such as occlusion and the presence of certain restorative work (fillings, bridges, implants) can dictate what inter dental cleansing devices are preferable. For larger spaces or under fixed bridge work, irrigation devices (such as the Waterpik) or interdental brushes may be more effective in removing plaque than dental floss, as they tend to cover more area.

The price range for interproximal cleansing tools varies and appliances such as irrigation devices are more costly than traditional floss or interdental brushes. Most appliances used for oral cleansing have longevity and manufacturer warranties, particularly if the brand is well-known. If an irrigation device is most appropriate for a patient, its purchase should be considered an investment for oral health.

Any interdental cleansing device has the potential to be harmful, if used incorrectly. Irrigation devices are packaged with instructions that recommend the appropriate angle of the water jet. The user also can manipulate the power of the water spray to avoid injury. Overly forceful or extremely vigorous use of dental floss or interdental brushes (e.g., proxabrush) can cut and/or irritate gum tissue.

For the best results, interdental cleansing devices must be individualized to address patients’ needs and adaptable to their oral and physical conditions. Oral health professionals are the best resources for determining what device is most appropriate for a patient’s use.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Oral Health
        

Like most flu seasons, this one is catching up with lots of people.

Based on reports from doctors' offices and emergency rooms, state health officials say that the flu has been widespread for weeks, meaning it's all over the state. They can't say if flu activity has peaked, but February is typically the time.

At St. Joseph Medical Center, officials said they had 20 patients in isolation for either confirmed or suspected flu.  The ER has been very busy.

Officials at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene note that flu shots are still available. City and county health departments offer them, as do retail outlets and doctors' offices. The vaccine includes three strains this year, including the H1N1 flu, and officials believe they are spot on with the mix.

Thousands of people get sick, and some die, every year from the flu -- including seemingly healthy people. Officials say the vaccine does not cause the flu. And this is the first year that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention isrecommending everyone older than 6 months get the vaccine.

Have you had your vaccination?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 4:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Swine flu/H1N1
        

This Saturday, Baltimore Washington Medical Center is sponsoring Heartbeat for Health, which will offer all kinds of free activities centered around prevention of heart disease.

There will be chances to try country line dance, belly dancing, hip-hop and Zumba presented by local studios. And also will be yoga and resistance training demonstrations from local fitness experts.

Also, there will be cholesterol, bone density, foot and blood pressure screenings, and educational displays for smoking cessation and heart health.

Refreshments and promotional items will also be available, as well cooking demonstrations and health snack sampling from Deliciously Nutritious.

Registration is not required at the event, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Severna Park Community Center,  623 Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard in Severna Park.

For more information or for a free calendar of events of free screenings and programs at Baltimore Washington Medical Center, call 410-787-4375.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cardiovascular Health
        

HealthGrades, a rating organization, has named “America’s 50 best hospitals,” and Baltimore appears to have done well:

Franklin Square Hospital Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center and Good Samaritan Hospital all made the list. Hospitals were located in 28 cities in 19 states. West Palm Beach, Fla., had the most hospitals with six. Cleveland and Chicago were next with four.

I’m always a little unsure about these lists, especially when some of the top-rated hospitals in the country aren’t ranked -- though, some city hospitals don’t make lists like these because they have way higher Medicare/Medicaid population and way more sickly patients and complicated cases.

But HealthGrades says this ranking used risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates, which means they took into account the different levels of patient illness. The hospitals also needed to meet minimum patient volumes and range of services provided.

They said patients at these hospitals had a nearly 30 percent lower risk of death and 3 percent lower rate of complications. HealthGrades study found that if all U.S. hospitals had performed at this level, more than a half million Medicare deaths could have been prevented between 1999 and 2009.

See the full list of hospitals at HealthGrades.com.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Safety
        

Looking for a healthy breakfast on the go? Health magazine has sized up the options at fast food joints and come up with a Top 10 list (They considered calories, fat and sodium, as well as portion sizes and the amount of fresh and unprocessed ingredients like fruits and veggies.)

They also made some picks for eating at home, and noted a couple of things to avoid at the drive-through.

1 .Spinach Florentine Breakfast Wrap from Così: Calories 334; Fat 21g (sat 8g); Protein 24g; Carbohydrate 21g; Fiber 11g; Sodium 516mg

2. Protein Artisan Snack Plate from Starbucks: Calories 370; Fat 19g (sat 6g); Protein 13g; Carbohydrate 36g; Fiber 4g; Sodium 470mg

3. Berry Topper Ideal Meal from Jamba Juice: Calories 300; Fat 4.5g (sat 0.5g); Protein 9g; Carbohydrate 59g; Fiber 7g; Sodium 85mg (for 12 ounces)

4. Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal from Au Bon Pain: Calories 280; Fat 4g (sat 1g); Protein 8g; Carbohydrate 56g; Fiber 7g; Sodium 10mg

5. Scrambled Egg Whites, Chicken Sausage and Fruit from Denny’s: Calories 230; Fat 9g (sat 0g); Protein 19g; Carbohydrate 19g; Fiber 3g; Sodium 447mg

6. Fruit & Nut Oatmeal from McDonald’s: Calories 260; Fat 4.5g (sat 1.5g); Protein 7g; Carbohydrate 48g; Fiber 5g; Sodium 115mg (for oatmeal without brown sugar) (Update: Mark Bittman from The New York Times might have something to say about that.)

7. Simple & Fit Veggie Omelette from IHOP: Calories 320; Fat 10g (sat 1g); Protein 21g; Carbohydrate 40g; Fiber 8g; Sodium 420mg

8. Western Egg White & Cheese Muffin Melt from Subway: Calories 160; Fat 4g (sat 1.5g); Protein 15g; Carbohydrate 19g; Fiber 5g; Sodium 680mg

9. Egg White Turkey Sausage Wake-up Wrap from Dunkin’ Donuts: Calories 150; Fat 5g (sat 2.5g); Protein 11g; Carbohydrate 14g; Fiber 1g; Sodium 400mg

10. Breakfast Power Sandwich from Panera Bread: Calories 330; Fat 14g (sat 6g); Protein 22g; Carbohydrate 31g; Fiber 4g; Sodium 830mg

If you like to eat at home, here are the magazine’s picks:

1. Kashi Golden Goodness Cereal
2. Stonyfield Farm Organic 2% Greek Yogurt
3. Eggo Fiber Plus Calcium Buttermilk Waffles

And if you couldn’t figure this out, these things are NOT health food:
1. BK Ultimate Breakfast Platter
2. Au Bon Pain Double Chocolate Muffin

Photo of oatmeal courtesy of Au Bon Pain

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer health, Diet and exercise
        

At noon Feb. 23  Dr. Paul Christo of Johns Hopkins will participate in a live chat on fibromyalgia here. The disorder, which causes muscle pain throughout the body and fatigue, affects 5 million Americans 18 or older, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. We'll talk about the latest and common treatments such as medications and lifestyle changes.

Christo, director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will take reader questions on the nature of the disease and the latest treatments. Can't make the chat? Send us questions in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and come back to baltimoresun.com/healthchat at a later time to read the transcript.

Posted by Kim Walker at 9:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

By adopting environmentally-friendly approaches to surgery, hospitals can reduce their carbon footprint, cut health care costs and keep patients safe, according to a new study by Johns Hopkins researchers that offers some strategies for going green.

Health care facilities produce more than 6,600 tons of waste each day and more than 4 billion pounds every year. Only the food industry produces more waste, according to background information in the article. Cleaning and reusing tools once labeled for one-time use is one way to save costs and cut down on waste and Meredith wrote last year about hospitals efforts to do so.

But this new study appearing in the latest Archives of Surgery zeros in on the waste in surgical rooms. Consider that operating rooms and labor and delivery suites account for about 70 percent of hospital waste, according to the researchers. ORs are known for keeping sterilized equipment open -- even if it's never used -- and using expensive overhead lights.

They also do a poor job at disposing of medical waste. 

Surgical rooms often use two types of bags to dispose of waste: red bags for pathologic waste and clear bags for noninfectious waste, explains a release about the study. Nearly 90 percent of what ends up in the red bags -- which cost more to process -- could be tossed elsewhere, according to Dr. Martin A. Markey, an associate professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the study's author.

After a while that gets super expensive. "Although hazardous and regulated medical waste (equivalent to infectious waste) makes up only 24 percent of medical waste, it accounts for 86 percent of costs," the study concluded.

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Surgery
        

Researchers have found that talking on a cell phone for 50 minutes is linked to increased brain activity, but the health risks are still not known.

The study, published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found evidence of increased brain activity in the area closest to the antenna. The research, conducted by the National Institutes of Health, is among the first to conclude that the brain appears sensitive to the radiofrequency-modulated electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) of cell phones.

While the findings raise questions about the risks of low levels of radiation from mobile phones, researchers cautioned that the results are preliminary and do not explain what the health implications might be. More long-range studies are needed to determine if there is potential for harm, the researchers wrote.

To test the impact of cell phone use on brain activity, researchers recruited 47 men and women. They placed cell phones on their right and left ears and used scans to measure any activity when phones were on and again when phones were off. They found higher activity when the cell phones were on, and in the region closest to the antenna.  

While some medical experts have raised concerns about cell phone safety, studies on the health effects have varied, the paper explains.

Last year, a huge study on whether cell phone use was linked to brain cancer turned up inconclusive. Nevertheless, an emotional debate has been brewing for years about cell phone safety. Just last year, San Francisco passed a law requiring retailers to display how much radiation is emitted from a phone.

What do you make of the debate and the latest findings?

AP photo

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 6:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Medical studies
        

Doctors at Union Memorial Hospital Curtis National Hand Center have sent out a warning: Take care with that snowblower.

Shovel safety is a constant topic in winter, but the doctors say they just received another patient in the emergency room with a snowblower trauma – four fingers and a possible amputation of one. Hand surgeons can’t say if it can be reattached.

Rescue workers reported in a Sun story that it was a 50-year-old Laurel man who got his hand stuck in the snowblower.

So, the hand doctors want to remind everyone who uses a snowblower of some ways to prevent injury. First, if your snowblower jams, turn it off.

Never put your hand down the chute or around the blades, disengage the clutch, wait five seconds after shutting machine off to allow impeller blades to stop rotating, always use a stick or broom handle to clear impacted snow and never use your hand and keep all shields in place. Do not remove the safety devices on the machine.

Keep hands and feet away from all moving parts. And keep a clear head, concentrate and do not drink before using your snowblower.

They say if you do cut your finger or hand, bleeding from minor cuts will often stop on their own by applying direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth. You may need to go to the emergency room if that doesn’t stop the bleeding after 15 minutes. You may also need to go to the ER if you are due for a tetanus shot or to check for tendon or nerve injury if motion or feeling is lost in the finger.

Reuters photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Safety
        

It’s National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and mental health experts from Sheppard Pratt Health Systems are offering some free events and a screening.

Today from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m., there will be a “Love Your Tree” poster exhibit, recognition ceremony and reception.  The posters were made by middle, high school and college students on the theme of confronting narrow ideals about beauty and embracing body diversity. The posters will be on display during February.

On Thursday from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m., there will be a family information and support panel that will offer specialist from the Center for Eating disorders and some parents of children who are in various stages of treatment for their eating disorders.

Confidential screenings by a licensed professional will be offered through Friday. Call 410-938-5252 to schedule.

All of the event will be at the Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt, 6501 N. Charles St. in Towson. Space is limited, so RSVP by contacting Kate Clemmer at 410-427-3886 or kclemmer@sheppardpratt.org. Get more information at www.EatingDisorder.org.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer health
        

While no doctor wants to make a mistake, they if they acknowledge them, they can learn from them. That’s the conclusion of researchers who reviewed the notes of one of Johns Hopkins Hospital’s groundbreaking neurosurgeons Harvey Cushing.

Cushing documented his own surgical mistakes and made suggestions for preventing them in the future. The researcher say, in the February Archive of Surgery, that the open documentation may have helped spur groundbreaking medical treatment advances back then. They could also do the same thing today.

“Acknowledging medical errors is evidently something that doctors identified early on as critical to advancement a very long time ago,” said principal author Katherine Latimer, a medical student at Hopkins School of Medicine, in a statement.

She and fellow researchers looked through the archives for notes on 878 patients that Cushing treated between 1896 to 1912, and they picked 30 to explore. (Apparently, he had terrible handwriting and used lots of abbreviations).  They included such things as operations on the wrong side of the brain, dropping instruments into surgical wounds, lacking enough or appropriate tools.

Malpractice lawsuits were a growing concern back then and were a threat to doctors’ reputations. But the researchers believe Cushing thought innovating and fixing problems was most important, so being upfront about his shortcomings was necessary.

Dr. Alfredo Quinones, a Hopkins associate professor of neurosurgery and senior author of the study, said that medical errors still have a huge impact on patients and their families and recognizing them can lead to better patient care.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care professionals
        

Nearly 6 percent of 12- to 14-year-olds drank alcohol in the past month and almost half of them got their drinks at home or from family members, according to a new federal study.

Teen drinking isn't just risky, it can lead to problems down the road, the report warns.

People who drink alcohol before they turn 15 are six times more likely to develop drinking problems than those who wait until the legal drinking age, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, which conducted the study based on surveys of more than 44,000 young people.

The report, based on responses between 2006 to 2009, found that of the 706,000 youth who drank alcohol, about 15 percent took the booze from their homes. And nearly 16 percent were provided the liquor from their parents. Another 14 percent got it from their adult relatives.

Getty Images photo 

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Pediatrics
        

Cribs are supposed to offer parents a safe-haven to leave their babies. But new research suggests they can be dangerous.

Nearly 182,000 babies and toddlers under 2 were treated in emergency rooms between 1990 and 2008 for injuries in cribs, playpens and bassinets, according to a new study in the journal Pediatrics.

While the government and safety gurus have sounded the alarm on crib deaths -- some 9 million cribs have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission since 2007 for safety concerns --  researchers in this new study are calling it the first to investigate crib-related injuries.

Despite recent attention paid to crib safety, 26 children a day are injured in cribs in the United States, the report states.  The authors are calling for more stringent safety standards as a House committee plans to discuss crib safety concerns.

Two-thirds of the injuries involved falls, particularly from drop-side cribs, a ban on which will go into effect in June. The vast majority of children taken to ERs were treated and released. The rate of injuries actually declined over the 19-year study period, but the number remained high, the authors write.

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Pediatrics
        

About one in four Americans don't spend any of their free time being active, and people who live in Appalachia and the South are least likely to get out and move, according to new estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC data provides county-level stats on physical activity and levels of diabetes and obesity nationwide. Physical activity was defined as doing any form of exercise outside of one's job, such as walking,  running or even gardening.

Counties in Maryland varied widely. Somerset County had the highest percentage of adults who are physically inactive -- 31 percent. Baltimore wasn't far behind with 30 percent of adults being physically inactive. Meanwhile counties with the lowest percentage were Montgomery (18 percent) Howard (19 percent) and Anne Arundel (21 percent).

Not surprisingly, the areas where people did the least activity were also those where rates of diabetes and obesity were high. Even modest exercise -- taking a brisk walk every day for 20 minutes -- can help people with diabetes improve their health, the CDC suggests. 

The agency hopes community groups and policy makers use the data to promote communities with sidewalks and access to parks and recreation areas that encourage people to get out and exercise.

So, have you left your desk today?

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 7:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: General Health
        

Mark Jeter continues to share with us his experience being treated for stomach cancer.

The Baltimore native recently finished his first week of chemotherapy and has been at home recovering.

He said the chemotherapy wore him out more than he expected. Typing a simple e-mail quickly tired him out. He can't use an electric shaver while getting treatment so looks like a "bear." But Jeter said he doesn't mind too much because the chemo will probably eventually result in him losing his hair. The pain fom chemo was also more than he could take one night.

Here he describes it in his own words:

Today I went for a shot and I feel better. Keep in mind I don't like any pain at all. Call it what you want but I'm just keeping it real: NO PAIN FOR ME.

The shot was to help me get my white blood cell count back up. The pain I have because the blood count is down either makes my bones ache or just fatigues me beyond what you can image.

Let me try to tell how I felt the first day and second day after getting out of the hospital. Day one you feel verrrrrry tired and your body is spinning from head to toe. You are taking so much medicine to fix one thing after the other. You want to eat but can only eat a little bit of this or two bites of that. Sometimes you will have a metal taste in your mouth but I have only had that once.

On day two you start feeling a lot better, but what I have noticed is since getting the shot to increase my white blood cell count is there is a lot of pain. I struggle to do simple things like hold my head up long enough to write this message to you. Feeling much better, just tired.

 I also would like to say something to all the many people that prayed for me and offered to help in so many ways. I also appreciate the people who made the phone calls even though most of the time I am too tired to talk. Feeling the support is beyond words.  Thank you all for helping me get through this time. I know that GOD is making this happen for a reason. Thank you GOD for all that you have done and are about to do.

Read more about Mark Jeter's cancer treatment here.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 5:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Mark Jeter's Cancer Journey
        

Three out of four devices recalled in the last five years because of serious risks were given an expedited review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or were exempt from review, according to a new study.

The report says that medical devices are either given a premarket approval, which requires clinical testing and inspections, or they are put through the speedier 510(k) process because they are deemed similar to a device already on the marketed and are considered to have low or moderate risk.

Diana M. Zuckerman, of the National Research Center for Women & Families in Washington, and her colleagues looked at device recalls from 2005 to 2009 and determined which approval process was used or if they were exempt from FDA review.

They found 113 recalled devices that could cause serious health problems or death. Twenty one (19 percent) had the more rigorous review and 80 (71 percent) had the expedited one and eight were exempt. They also found some that by law should have gone through the tougher review. The most common high-risk device recalled was heart related.

The report authors said the 510(k) review has been criticized by public health advocates, other federal agencies and medical journals. The courts have also noted shortcomings in the process. But the authors said Congress hasn’t given the FDA enough funding to give the higher scrutiny to every device.

The report, posted online and planned for the June 14 issue of Archive of Internal Medicine, concluded that Congressional action or major regulatory changes were due.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cardiovascular Health, Consumer health
        

Eating a diet rich in fiber has long been known to help keep your digestive tract working properly. It's also thought to lower the risk of heart disease, some cancers and diabetes. Now, a new study suggests it could reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular, infectious and respiratory diseases.

People who ate a high-fiber diet decreased their risk of dying over a nine year period compared to those who ate less fiber, according to a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The findings are based on a diet study from the National Institutes of Health and AARP, which included 219,123 men and 168,999 women ages 50 to 71 when the study began. Researchers from the National Cancer Institute examined food surveys completed by the participants in 1995 or 1996. After nine years about 11,000 people died and researchers used national records to determine the cause.

People who ate at least 26 grams per day were 22 percent less likely to die than those who consumed the least amount of fiber -- about 13 grams per day or less. Men and women who consumed diets higher in fiber also had a reduced risk of cardiovascular, infectious and respiratory diseases, the study found. Getting fiber from grains seemed to have the biggest impact, the authors write.

The study has some limitations -- mainly, people who ate high-fiber diets might also have been more likely to eat healthier diets overall, attributing to their longevity. Still, the study offers more evidence that fiber is certainly good for you.

Federal dietary guidelines recommend people consume at least 14 grams of fiber per 1,000 calories, so about 28 grams for an average 2,000 calorie-per-day diet. But many experts say Americans don't get enough.

So where can you find fiber? Food such as raspberries, lentils, peas and barley and oat bran are packed with fiber. Here are some good resources for including fiber in your diet.

AP photo

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

In an effort to draw attention to the toll of strokes and cardiovascular disease, a group of researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles decided to take a look at the health of Oscar-level actors.

They found that Hollywood isn’t immune from strokes and heart disease – which are among the leading causes of death and disability in the nation.

The findings, presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles last week, showed a tremendous impact on the actors’ careers.

“Since this is the first time the ISC is being held in Los Angeles, we thought it was an appropriate occasion to investigate the frequency and impact of stroke among leading Hollywood actors,” said Hannah Smith, a staff research associate at the UCLA Stroke Center, in a statement. “By documenting the toll that stroke and myocardial infarction have exacted on stars like Kirk Douglas and Grace Kelly, we hope to illustrate the damage that cardiovascular disease can cause.”

They looked at best actor and best actress Oscar nominees from 1927 through 2009, and of the 409  nominated over the 82-year period:

+30 (7.3 percent) suffered strokes and 39 (9.5 percent) suffered heart attacks.
+The average age of nominees at their first stroke was 67.
+More women suffered strokes than men and 20 percent of the total suffered fatal strokes.
+Performers' annual movie/television appearances declined an average of 73 percent during the three years following a stroke or heart attack.

The heart and stroke associations report that stroke is the fourth leading killer in the country. Some 795,000 people have a new or recurrent stroke each year. The groups say it’s preventable by controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, quitting smoking, exercising and eating a healthy diet.

See a list of those who have had a stroke on the next page.

Notable Oscar nominees and winners who suffered strokes include:

+Mary Pickford (winner, 1929)
+Bette Davis (nominee, 1934; winner, 1935)
+James Cagney (nominee, 1938; winner 1942)
+Cary Grant (nominee, 1942)
+Kirk Douglas (nominee, 1950)
+Richard Burton (nominee, 1954)
+Grace Kelly (winner, 1954)
+Elizabeth Taylor (nominee, 1957, winner 1960)
+Patricia Neal (winner, 1963)
+Dudley Moore (nominee, 1982)
+James Garner (nominee, 1985)
+Sharon Stone (nominee, 1995)

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cardiovascular Health
        

New research is connecting seniors’ hearing loss with development of dementia, a finding that could lead to new ways to help stave off the memory decline.

The study by Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging didn’t determine the cause of the link – perhaps there is a common pathology or the risk increases as the strain of decoding sounds overwhelms the brains of people with hearing loss or as those who can’t hear become more socially isolated.

The finding could help determine or push interventions, such as hearing aids.

“Researchers have looked at what affects hearing loss, but few have looked at how hearing loss affects cognitive brain function,” study leader Dr. Frank Lin, assistant professor in Hopkins' Division of Otology, said in a statement.

“There hasn't been much crosstalk between otologists and geriatricians, so it's been unclear whether hearing loss and dementia are related.”

For the study, published in the February Archives of Neurology, the researchers used data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging, which was initiated by the National Institute on Aging in 1958 to track various health factors over time.

They focused on 639 people whose cognitive abilities were tested between 1990 and 1994 and again every one to two years until 2008. Those with the most hearing loss had the highest likelihood of developing dementia.

Baltimore Sun file photo of a hearing aid/Lloyd Fox

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 5:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: geriatrics
        

Packed with harmful levels of caffeine, energy drinks offer no therapeutic benefit and may put some children and young adults at risk of health problems, according to a study published today in the journal Pediatrics.

Energy drink overdose -- causing a small body to ingest too much caffeine and ingredients such as taurine and guarana -- could lead to stroke, seizure and even sudden death, particularly in youth with health problems such as diabetes, cardiac abnormalities or behavior disorders, the study found.

Because the drinks are marketed as nutritional supplements, they aren't subject to the same caffeine limits on soft drinks or the safety testing of medicines, the authors write. And many drinks include ingredients that aren't regulated or haven't been sufficiently studied, they said.

Researchers at the University of Miami came to their conclusions after a review of published articles -- from medical journals, newspapers and trade publications.

Young people make up about half of the huge energy drink market and somewhere between 30 percent to 50 percent of adolescents report consuming energy drinks, according to background information in the study. Since energy drinks are often marketed to young people, doctors should screen their young patients for their use and work to educate parents and children of the potential harms, the authors write.

Folks at the American Beverage Association told the AP that the report is simply spreading misinformation.

Nevertheless, researchers have expressed concerns about the high levels of caffeine in such drinks before. I wrote a few years back about a Johns Hopkins study in which the author said the drinks should come with labels warning of the possible health risks.

The new study comes on the heels of some local governments banning caffeine-infused alcohol drinks, after federal warnings that they pose health risks. While this study doesn't specifically take on this class of drinks, it mentions that coupling energy drinks with alcohol could only intensify the risks.

Baltimore Sun photo

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 7:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Pediatrics
        

This is the latest in a series of blog posts by Mark Jeter, who is getting treated for stomach cancer.

He is chronicling his experience for The Sun in an effort to bring attention to the disease and tell people his story. He recently finished his first week of chemotherapy.

Here his wife Carla fills us in on some of the symptoms of treatment. She also talks about how her husband, who is always joking with people, has developed a bond with one of the technicians at the hospital:

Today was a great day for Mark!

He had a little indigestion this morning, got some meds, then felt great!

He is sleeping a lot more, but that's normal because the chemo makes you fatigued. He's lost a little of his appetite, which is also normal.

We went for a walk early this evening, and now we're chilling watching American Idol.

We will be discharged tomorrow morning.

Mark has met his match in his night technician Shenita, aka Smiley! She is hilarious and can go toe to toe with him! Lol. He tried to give her a hard way to go, but she came right back every time!

Read more about Mark's journey with cancer.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Cancer, Mark Jeter's Cancer Journey
        

According to a new survey, most adults who ride in the back seat don’t wear their seat belt.

There’s been a huge push – and a lot of legislation – to get people to buckle up in the front seat. But the campaign doesn’t seem to have translated to the back, according to LeaseTrader.com, a car leasing site that conducted the survey.

Officials polled more than 1,000 men and women around the country who rode in the back seat of a car at least 25 times in 2010.

Among those in state with rear-seat restraint laws – including Texas, Washington, Minnesota and California – men said they wore their belt 14.3 percent of the time. Women reported they wore their belt 18.4 percent of the time.

In states with no law – including Illinois, Arizona, Tennessee, Nebraska and Pennsylvania – the percentage was 9.6 percent for men and 16.3 percent for women. The same people said they wear a seat in while in front of the car 75.2 percent of the time. (Maryland has no back-seat law for adults.)

The reasons for not wearing a belt in the back included forgetting (63.2 percent), felt it wasn’t necessary (13.4 percent), didn’t think it was the law (9.8 percent) and felt safe without it (8.6 percent).

“What’s most disturbing is that in this day and age of always-on news coverage and awareness, there is no excuse why more people aren’t wearing seat belts in all parts of the vehicle,” said Sergio Stiberman, chief executive and founder of LeaseTrader.com, in a statement. “Whether it’s the local television news or an online news source, we see daily images and stories of people getting hurt while driving or riding in a vehicle which should serve as a reminder of why it’s important to buckle up.”

Baltimore Sun file photo/Algerina Perna

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Consumer health
        

Baltimore native Mark Jeter has agreed to chronicle his battle with stomach cancer on this blog.

I told you earlier this week how he discovered a 14 centimeter round cell sarcoma in his stomach last year.

He had it removed and this week began chemotherapy at Greater Baltimore Medical Center to kill any other traces of the disease.

His wife Carla has been by his side at the hospital.

Here, he writes about his first day of chemotherapy:

Arrived at the GBMC at 7:30 a.m. to get a double port put in my chest. This will allow them to run two different drugs that go into my main artery at the same time. They don't put you to sleep for the double port, they numb the area and you can feel alot of pressure, some blood running and some pain.

I waited seven hours to get to a room to start chemo. Completed the first round of chemo and they put five different drugs in me. I thought they were going to put me to sleep but they kept my butt up and I felt everything - it was a little painful. The chemo started last night at 8 p.m. and won't stop until Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

I am one day into treatment and all it is IV's running day and night. I got sick today, nothing serious but I started sweating, felt flush and the nurse came in with some medicine and I felt so much better.

Now it's 7 p.m. and I am waiting on some food from Ruby Tuesday.

A brother has got to eat good.

Read more about Mark's battle with cancer.

(Photo courtesy of Mark Glaze. Mark Jeter and wife Carla.)

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cancer, Mark Jeter's Cancer Journey
        

Motorcycle helmets can keep the brain safe, but Johns Hopkins researchers now say they also protect the spine too.

There has been a myth persisting for 25 years that wearing a helmet while riding causes spine injuries, said the study leader, Dr. Adil H. Haider, an assistant professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. It was based on a faulty study, he said, and helmets have only gotten lighter and sturdier since then.

And lobby groups have used it to help undo helmet laws. Just about every state used to require helmets forty years ago, but now only about 20 do.

But this new research “debunks” the myth, Haider says.

“Using this new evidence, legislators should revisit the need for mandatory helmet laws,” he said in a statement. “There is no doubt that helmets save lives and reduce head injury. And now we know they are also associated with a decreased risk of cervical spine injury.”

The new study, published online in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, shows riders wearing helmets were 22 percent less likely to suffer a cervical spine injury – an injury that can result in paralysis. The data on more than 40,000 collisions between 2002 and 2006 came from the National Trauma Databank.

It also showed risk of traumatic brain injury for those wearing helmets dropped by 65 percent and odds of death decreased by 37 percent.

The journal article says motorcycle use has gone up sharply in the last decade, and injuries since 1997 have increased by about 5,000 a year. Fatalities have nearly doubled.

Baltimore Sun file photo/Barbara Haddock Taylor

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Consumer health
        

Join us at baltimoresun.com/healthchat noon Feb. 9 with Dr. Paul Christo of Johns Hopkins to discuss Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy). The chronic pain condition is characterized by intense or burning pain, usually in the arms, hands, legs or feet. Doctors do not know the cause, but it can be related to an injury or even surgery.

Christo, director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will take reader questions on the nature of the disease and the latest treatments. Can't make the chat? Email questions in advance to healtcalendar@baltsun.com and visit baltimoresun.com/healthchat to read the transcript.

(Chicago Tribune file photo)

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

With autism diagnoses on the rise, services for children have increased as doctors, therapists and parents try to find effective treatment for the complex disorder.

But new research suggests that the wealth of resources targeting children with autism tends to decline after high school, begging the question: what happens to autistic children once they reach adulthood?

Nearly 40 percent of all young adults examined in a survey of 680 19- to 23-year-olds had not received medical services, mental health services, case management or therapy, according to a study published this week in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

African Americans and low-income people with autism were even less likely to access services, the researchers from Washington University in St. Louis found.

Nationwide, as many as 1 in 110 children have an autism spectrum disorder, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reflect an increase from just a few years ago. The rise in diagnoses is playing out in schools across the country, where the number of students 12 to 17 years old classified as autistic in special education enrollment increased from 15,480 in 1998 to 99,803 in 2007, according to background information in the article.

While state and local health officials and educators have worked hard to meet the needs of these students, services end once they exit high school. Little attention has been paid to continuing therapy and medical services for these children, the authors write.

The study has several limitations, particularly its small sample size and that it was based on a self-reported survey. But it raises an interesting and urgent issue as a generation of autistic children grows up. The National Institutes of Health has begun to call attention to the need for more services and research for adults with autism, but more work is needed, the authors urge.

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Autism, Medical studies
        

Mark Jeter's life changed last year when he was hit with excruciating stomach pains and became gravely ill.

The 47-year-old, who at the time was enjoying being a newlywed with wife Carla, found out he had cancer.

Doctors in Baltimore removed a round cell sarcoma, that had grown to 14 centimeters, from his stomach. It's a rare form of cancer and doctors had to send the tumor to a specialist at Emory University to figure out exactly what it was and how to treat it.

Jeter, who grew up in Baltimore, is now undergoing that treatment and has agreed to share his story with readers of The Sun on this blog. He and wife Carla hope it will be cathartic to share their experience with others and may also help others dealing with a similar illness.

Jeter is determined to beat the disease and has an extremely optimistic attitude. He looks to two daughters (from a previous relationship), a granddaughter and of course wife, Carla, for inspiration and support. He also has a large family that likes to get together for big feasts on weekends that have also helped to keep him upbeat.

Jeter is also a friend of mine.

He will share his experiences when he feels up to it. At times, he may convey his feelings to Carla who will put them on paper. The amateur photographer will also share pictures with us from the hospital.

Here is the first post on how he is grappling with cancer.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Cancer, Mark Jeter's Cancer Journey
        

Like many members of Congress these days, Rep. John Sarbanes has been on a tour of his district, talking and listening to small businesses, doctors, seniors and other individuals about health care reform.

I got a chance to catch up with him today, just after a press conference remembering Deamonte Driver, the 12-year-old boy who died four years ago when his untreated tooth infection spread to his brain. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, a fellow Maryland Democrat, held the event at state health offices to stress the need to keep the health care reform law intact.

Sarbanes said (Democratic) members of Congress, some of whom may have wanted to change the subject at election time, are increasingly trying to draw attention to the benefits of the law that includes preventative care measures such as oral care, many at no cost to patients.

Polls show many of those measures are popular, even if the American public is still split on the overall legislation. Those measures include closing the donut hole for seniors on prescription drugs, keeping kids on their parents’ insurance until they are 26, eliminating lifetime benefit caps and preventing insurers from considering preexisting conditions.

And while many GOP leaders say the law is far from affordable for the country, and should be repealed and replaced, Democrats like Sarbanes are trying to drive a different message -- this one about the rising costs to individuals from the current system. 

“I ask people, for those who do have health insurance now, are you really happy with your increases in premiums over last 5 years?” he said.

“They’ve gone up 10, 15, 20 percent,” he said. “We can redesign the system to bring costs down, or make the trajectory not as steep. People say I have health insurance, don’t tinker with it. But if you ask if they are really okay, can they sustain the increases, they think about it.”

Sarbanes said he believes in the long run, there will be savings, as predicted by the Congressional Budget Office, because people will get more preventive care and not let problems linger to their most costly levels.

To be sure, Maryland is a more receptive audience. The governor, lieutenant governor, health secretary and others have been working aggressively to implement the law and take advantage of grants and other benefits of signing on to federal elements early.

The country as a whole is another matter. The House voted to repeal the law, though the effort  failed in the Senate. Many states have sued to stop the law, and two of four courts have agreed that the individual mandate to buy health insurance is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court is likely to decide the matter.

However, supporters say having most everyone insured is key to making the overall law work because the larger pool of people paying into the system will offset the cost of covering more sick people.

Sarbanes acknowledged some of his constituents have anxiety, such as small business owners who already are struggling to pay for health coverage or don’t know how they’ll pay for new insurance. The owners and their employees now are some of the most likely Americans to be without health care, he said.

Along the way, Sarbanes said there will be room for changes. For example, Congress just moved to reduce some reporting requirements for small businesses. And while he says he and other members will continue to remind the public of what it’s getting with reform, he will be looking and listening for other areas that need tweaking.

Stay tuned. He just may show up at your workplace and ask.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care reform
        

Sen. Mike Miller has already made it loud and clear that no increase in alcohol taxes will pass under his watch.

But that is not stopping proponents of the dime a drink tax increase to push ahead with their fight.

Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative held a press conference this morning with a Baltimore wine store owner who said he supports the tax.

David Wells, of The Wine Source in Hampden, said he is in favor of Senate Bill 168 sponsored by Senator Verna Jones-Rodwell and House Bill 121 sponsored by Delegate James Hubbard.

“I will sleep better at night,” Mr. Wells, said in a statement. “knowing that this dime a drink alcohol tax increase is reducing underage drinking and alcohol abuse.

Supporters of the tax want the $215 million it will raise to be used for health care, to fund programs for people with developmental disabilities and mental health needs, and for drug and alcohol prevention and treatment.

"It is time for our industry to do its fair share to reduce the deaths and societal problems caused by the misuse of our product,” Wells said in the statement.

Take our poll and tell us whether you think an alcohol tax is needed.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: General Health
        

African Americans make up about 14 percent of the U.S. population but account for half of new HIV diagnoses, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Maryland, some 78 percent of HIV/AIDS cases are African-Americans. At the end of 2009, 1 in 54 black men and 1 in 97 black women were living with HIV/AIDS.

With those sobering statistics in mind, health officials in Maryland and beyond are using today's National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day to urge people to get tested and treated for the illness.

"With HIV, knowledge is power," said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, state health secretary in a statement. "Getting tested and treated can save your life."

Raising awareness and combating the disparity in HIV cases is no small feat. Last year, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene provided testing, partner services and other interventions to more than 75,000 African Americans, but more work is needed to combat the epidemic, officials said.

Increasing access to testing and counseling services and reducing stigma are all needed to confront the problem, officials said.

The CDC's data show just how wide the racial disparity is: Black men are diagnosed with HIV at eight times the rate for white men and black women get diagnosed with the illness 19 times the rate for white women, according to the CDC's report, which comes from 2008 statistics from 37 states. 

Here are more details on HIV/AIDS among blacks from the CDC. 

And here's more information on events and resources for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: HIV/AIDS
        

In this story by the New York Times, some of the survivors of the shootings said they have thought about how much of their medical bills they would have to pay.

It turns out that all of the 13 survivors had health insurance, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who has top-of-the-line federal insurance. And there are pots of money, from federal and nonprofit sources, that will help defray other costs, such as travel to the trial and maybe counseling and even new glasses.

The bills aren't all in yet, and surely the victims have copays and deductibles, but the hospitals that treated the survivors say they expect insurance to cover the bulk of the costs.

But what if they didn't have insurance? Should they or their families have to pay a dime now or if a problem arises later?

If they shouldn't have to pay, who should? And what about victims of car crashes or other disasters or accidents -- or in Baltimore, crossfire -- beyond the victims' control? The victims and families of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were compensated, but only recently did Congress step in to provide full medical care for the first responders.

Those who can't pay for medical care are treated anyway, and the public pays either through taxes or higher premiums. There is no "do not treat" list. But many struggle with bills when they get sick or hurt, or whether it's their own fault or not. So, where is the line? 

Reuters photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care reform
        

If you plan to watch the Super Bowl – and you care who wins – you might want to do some yoga first.

When your team loses there is an increased risk of death from the stress, according to a new study.

Most people probably agree that watching sports can be emotional, but the study published in the journal Clinical Cardiology shows that a Super Bowl loss for a home team can lead to more cardiac death.

Researchers looked at mortality rates from cardiac causes for the 1980 Los Angeles Super Bowl loss and for the 1984 Los Angeles Super Bowl win. The loss killed more men, women and seniors and the win resulted in fewer deaths of seniors and women.

There was a 15 percent increase in circulatory death for men viewing a game loss and a 27 percent increase for women and a 22 percent increase for older patients.

“Physicians and patients should be aware that stressful games might elicit an emotional response that could trigger a cardiac event,” said Dr. Robert A. Kloner, of the Heart Institute at Good Samaritan Hospital and Keck School of Medicine at USC in Los Angeles, in a statement. “Stress reduction programs or certain medications might be appropriate in individual cases.”

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

It's a trend that persists: Newly trained female physicians earn lower salaries than their male counterparts, a new study suggests.

Only now, the reason isn’t clear. The researchers said traditionally women had chosen to be family doctors, who make less. But in the study, they said the gap – about $17,000 – isn’t explained by choice of specialty, practice type or working hours.

The study, published in the February issue of Health Affairs, shows that the disparity has been growing since 1999, when the difference was $3,600, to $16,819 in 2008. The data is based on doctors leaving programs in New York State, which has more residency programs and resident physicians than any other state (1,073 programs). It included 4,918 men and 3,315 women.

The dollar figure and the percentage have continued to grow: Women earned an average of $151,600 to start in 1999, while men earned $173,400, or 12.5 percent more. Women started at an average of $174,000 in 2008, while men got $209,300 in 2008, or 17 percent more.

The gap was present in nearly all specialties – female heart surgeons made $27,103 less, female otolaryngologists made $32,207 less and felmale pulmonary disease specialists made $44,320 less -- according to Anthony Lo Sasso, a professor and senior research scientist at the School of Public Health of the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the study coauthors.

He said the finding were significant since women now make up almost half of all U.S. medical students and are projected to comprise about a third of all practicing physicians at the beginning of this decade.

“It is not surprising to say that women physicians make less than male physicians because women traditionally choose lower-paying jobs in primary care fields or they choose to work fewer hours,” Lo Sasso said in a statement. “What is surprising is that even when we account for specialty and hours and other factors, we see this growing unexplained gap in starting salary. The same gap exists for women in primary care as it does in specialty fields.”

The authors said they could not rule out gender discrimination or that women may not be as good at negotiating salaries. But they also may be seeking greater flexibility into their schedules to accommodate family and settling for less pay.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care professionals
        

The state’s director of the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities has been appointed to a federal board that focuses on minority health.

Dr. Carlessia A. Hussein has been appointed board president of the National Association of State Offices of Minority Health as of Jan 12.

“The National Association is fortunate to have someone of Dr. Hussein caliber at its helm,” said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in which Hussein’s office falls. “She is a tireless champion for reducing unacceptable health disparities.”

The board announcement says she will “develop and implement innovative partnership, advocacy and communication strategies to build the capacity of the organization as a vehicle for transforming the health of racial and ethnic minority communities, tribal organizations and nations.”

The state reports that Hussein has held senior positions for 14 years. In her current position she promotes state efforts to eliminate health disparities – in areas including cancer and smoking, infant mortality and cardiovascular disease.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care professionals
        

Heart disease is not just a man’s disease. It’s also the top killer of women in Baltimore and across the country, and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake wants to make sure everyone knows it.

She joined with the Baltimore City Health Department, the local office of the American Heart Association and St. Agnes Hospital at City Hall today for that purpose – and to announce upcoming American Heart Month activities.

The mayor wants everyone, especially women, to step up their efforts this February to live healthier lives. She notes that heart disease kills, causes disability and is a major contributor to the 20-year life expectancy gap among rich and poor city neighborhoods.

“Many efforts are underway to build a stronger, healthier Baltimore, such as improving food access in our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake in a statement. “There are simple steps we all can take to make our hearts stronger: Cut your salt intake, make healthy food choices, exercise more often, quit smoking, and schedule regular blood pressure and cholesterol screenings.”

The mayor and other noted that heart disease is largely preventable. But more women die of cardiovascular disease than the five leading causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. The disease kills about 450,000 women every years, according to the American Heart Association.

The groups are calling on women to “Go Red” to raise awareness on designated days. That means wearing the color red and reminding everyone to make healthy choices such as increasing physical activity, changing diets and checking cholesterol levels.

See event listing on the next page.

The American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day is Feb. 4. For more information, visit http://www.goredforwomen.org/wearredday/index.html

The American Heart Association’s 4th Annual Macy’s Go Red For Women Health Fair & Fashion Show will be held Feb. 12 at Towson Town Center, 825 Dulaney Valley Road in Towson. For more information contact Annette Fisher at 443-621-8315 or Annette.Fisher@heart.org

7th Annual Red Dress Sunday on Feb. 13. Contact Krista Crockett for more information at 410-368-2773 or kcrockett@stagnes.org

For more information about heart disease awareness events, programs and activities, visit www.baltimorehealth.org or the Baltimore Sun listings.  

Read a collection of news and tips about heart disease here.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cardiovascular Health
        

As the U.S. Senate debates repeal of the national health care reform law today, the leaders in the states are also contemplating their next moves since a Florida judge rejected the entire reform law  because it unconstitutionally requires every America to buy health insurance.

Some led by Republicans say they will halt preparations for the law, while other conservatives have treaded more gently, according to the Washington Post. In addition to having accepted federal preparation grants that they could have to pay back, the governors also know that if they don’t move forward in creating exchanges where the uninsured can buy coverage, the federal government can do it for them.

But the states led by Democrats, such as Maryland, say they are moving ahead. Gov. Martin O’Malley issued a statement Monday that said: “Today's ruling is one step in a process that will resolve legal challenges to the Affordable Care Act. While the courts do their work, Maryland will continue to move forward with the act's successful implementation.

“This law is strengthening insurance for all Marylanders with coverage, will extend coverage to more than 350,000 Marylanders, and will save the state more than $800 million by 2020.”

The constitutionality of the law is likely to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in the next couple of years. Read a Reuters story about the legal argument here.

The population appears split on the subject of the overall law. Many fear it’s too expensive to give so many more people coverage or, like two of four judges who have ruled so far, object to the individual mandate. But many of the individual items in the law are popular, such as free preventative care, additional drug coverage for seniors, coverage for young adults on their parents’ plans and a ban on lifetime benefits and consideration of preexisting conditions.

Meanwhile, the newly Republican led House already voted to repeal the law. The Senate may take a (most certainly unsuccessful) vote today on repeal.

So what do you think the local and federal leaders should do now?

Reuters photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Health care reform
        

Nearly a third of all adults have high blood pressure and another third have high cholesterol, but most aren't being treated, leaving them at risk for developing heart attacks, strokes and related vascular diseases, according to new data out from the CDC.

Half of American adults with high blood pressure and two thirds of those with high cholesterol aren't getting adequate treatment, the agency reports.

And it's not lack of health insurance keeping people from the doctor. Some 80 percent of people with uncontrolled hypertension or high cholesterol have some form of coverage, the CDC reports.

So what's the problem? Well, while patients may have insurance, they may not have regular access to medical care, or the counseling and support needed to care for these chronic conditions. Others don't go to the doctor for follow-up visits and about half just stop taking their medicine all together.

Heart attack, stroke and other vascular diseases kill more 800,000 Americans a year and cost the nation about $300 billion a year in medical costs. Thing is, medications can control high blood pressure and high cholesterol before they become serious, the CDC urges.

The full report analyzed government data from 11,100 patients from 2005 to 2008 and found 68 million people with high blood pressure and 71 million with high cholesterol.

What exactly does it mean to have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you ask? For blood pressure, a reading of 120 over 80 is considered normal and  140 over 90 indicates it needs to be managed. For cholesterol, the LDL or "bad cholesterol" is the key figure. It should be less than 160 for people without heart disease or diabetes, no more than 130 for people with two or more other risk factors for heart disease and below 100 for people with heart disease or diabetes. 

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cardiovascular Health
        

John M. Colmers, the state’s former secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, has landed at Johns Hopkins.

When Colmers, 57, left the agency after four years in charge he said he wanted to continue working in the health care arena, specifically on health care reform, for which he had developed an expertise as the co-chair of the panel implementing the reform law in the state.

At Hopkins, he’ll be vice president for health care transformation and strategic planning. That means he’ll be “strategically positioning the expanding Hopkins system to respond to health care reform and other near-terms and long-term market forces,” according to the medical system.

“As we prepare for the inevitable changes resulting from new health care reform laws and other market forces, it is imperative that we do so in a thoughtful, effective and strategic manner,” said Dr. Edward D. Miller, dean of the medical faculty and chief executive of Johns Hopkins Medicine, in a statement. “There are few individuals who are as qualified as John Colmers to help guide and shape our response to these sweeping changes.”

As head of the $9 billion state health department, Colmers expanded Medicaid, mental health services and dental care and cut smoking rates. Prior to that leadership role, he worked in other top health-related positions for the state government including executive director of the Maryland Health Care Commission and the Health Services Cost Review Commission, which oversees Maryland's hospital rate-setting system.

“I am thrilled to join Johns Hopkins Medicine where I can apply what I have learned over the years in public service and in the private sector,” said Colmers, who received his bachelor’s degree from Hopkins as well as a master’s in public health from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. “I'm looking forward to being a part of an enterprise that is embracing the challenges of reform and strives to lead the nation in fulfilling the promise of the Affordable Care Act as it was enacted or may evolve.”

Photo courtesy of Johns Hopkins

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Health care professionals
        

My story today on new federal dietary guidelines urging Americans to lay off processed foods loaded with salt, touched on how difficult it can be to find healthy food options.

How exactly are you supposed to avoid all the fat, sugar and calories if your neighborhood has no full-scale grocery? The Baltimore health department is trying to offer healthier options through its Virtual Supermarket Project, which allows residents to order groceries online from Santoni's Super Market in Highlandtown and pick them up from their local library branch the next day.

Launched last year in two neighborhoods, the program is expanding into two more locations in Cherry Hill and Washington Village, health officials announced yesterday.

If you live in a neighborhood with no full-scale grocery store, you know your only options are corner stores, carryouts and fast food joints.

More than 23 million people in the U.S. live in a neighborhood so devoid of fresh food it's known as a "food desert," according to the USDA.

Last year, First Lady Michelle Obama pledged to combat the problem in her Let's Move campaign, and the USDA studied the issue and created an online tool to help find ways to irrigate these food deserts, if you will. The map-based Food Atlas allows you to search your local community for accessibility to grocery stores, levels of physical activity and overall health.

But many advocates say more innovative programs are needed to stamp out food deserts and bring fresh food to neighborhoods that so desperately need it. Do you have any ideas? 

Posted by Kelly Brewington at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet and exercise